GE 143 5A

Riza Mae M. Martorillas

Individual Activity .
September 15, 2018

Seven Days of Creation and After

Tons of realities and lessons engaging the people to witness the present situation of our
environment was embodied by Pope Francis through his encyclical, Laudato Si. The encyclical was a
synthesis of the religious viewpoint on the crisis experienced by nature. Pope Francis laid out eye-
opening facts on the deterioration of the environment and its grave impacts on various societal aspects.
His encyclical entitled On Care for Our Common Home, encompasses six chapters each covering an
important message about the worsening condition of the Earth. This reflection will emphasize on the
first chapter of the letter, What is Happening to Our Common Home.

Scientific theories, facts and evidences to chew on were elaborated in the first chapter of the
encyclical. Scientific information on the basis of the environment’s aggravation was essential in
attempting to gauge the primary factors causing this dilemma. This chapter focused on laying out a

Encyclical Letter Laudato Si of the Holy Father Francis, On Care for Our Common Home, 2015. Retrieved
from http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

systematic approach, a technical analysis of nature’s current state. Justifications on the contemporary
status of the Earth on this chapter was supported by precise details and specifics. These mere facts were
deemed to satisfy the curiosity of humanity thus awakening the people to grasp and understand the
miserable state of the environment. Truly, facts are proofs to realities and these were manifested in the
first chapter of the encyclical. The facts stated served as an overview on what is happening to our
common home which later turned into resolutions and actions.

Chapter one of the encyclical synthesized the facts presenting the reality of the environment.
The bulk of this chapter consist of naming the root causes of nature’s deterioration which was discussed
in seven chapters namely, Pollution and Climate Change, The Issue of Water, Loss of Biodiversity, Decline
in the Quality of Human Life and the Breakdown of Society, Global Inequality, Weak Responses and A
Variety of Opinions. All of which discussed pertinent scientific findings including various causes of
pollution, the throw away culture, forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, marine environment
aggravation, the depletion of water resources, the increasing global inequality gap between the poor and
rich sectors and the sad reality of man’s complacency on our weak responses.

Humanity’s increasing consumption which comes along with man’s negligence is highlighted in
the first chapter. These behavior constitutes implications on the environment subsequently affecting
back humanity. It is a cycle. Chapter one imparts knowledge about the existing problems and its
consequences. That there is a relationship between God’s creatures, nature, animals, plants and people.
Everything is connected to each other. The loss of one costs all. Chapter one generally stressed on the
possible incapacity of the Earth to support the excessive lifestyle of humankind.

Over the years, there is a continuous growing demand for change and this constitutes man’s
standards of living to become higher and higher. One of the main concerns in the modern world is
pollution brought about by human’s everyday activities. People selfishly use resources often neglecting
the imbalance it may cause to the environment. We keep on over exploiting nature just to satisfy human
greed. According to Pope Francis, we have this undying practice called the throwaway culture.
Oftentimes, we unconsciously throw large amounts of leftovers and waste materials not thinking where
all these rubbish would go. We are blinded by money and consumption that we often forget the fact that
we should be responsible in protecting and respecting the environment. Every year, tons and tons of
garbage produced by humans go to the oceans. Most of it are plastics which puts the marine life at high
risk. Toxic substances expelled by factories are absorbed by the soil causing contamination of ground
water and the death of the life it supports. The gases emitted by large volumes of vehicles and the
intensive use of fossil fuels have caused air pollution to easily double every year thus worsening the
condition of global warming.

This deterioration of the environment poses adverse impacts on human beings. Man is gravely
affected by natural calamities resulting to flooding and landslides causing loss of property and much
more, life. We whine, we protest, we complain but we ignore the truth that these tragedies are mere
consequences of our bad habits. We humans are struggling with man-made pollution and its outcomes.
Let us face the reality that we brought these misfortunes to ourselves.

On the second subchapter, the issue of water was frankly deliberated. Seventy five percent of
the Earth is water and yet we experience shortage of clean water. There are sectors of the society which
are deprived of access to potable water. The privatization of water resources which is believed to bring
water management and tapping systems to efficiency shuts out the poor. Endorsing water as a
commodity undermines its purpose, to support life. Every human being is given the right to life yet some
are denied of this basic privilege. Some countries lack adequate regulation facilities to maintain the
quality of water resulting to contamination that then goes to illnesses and much worse, death. Water
must not be a luxury.

The bulk of chapter one was on the loss of biodiversity. Man’s excessive intervention to various
ecosystems have significantly altered the environment including urbanization, cultivation, flawed fishing
habits and deforestation. People often overlook the limits of exploiting natural resources just to meet
their needs and demands. Existing resources are plundered for short term benefits without even
considering the long term consequences. Plant and animal species are facing alarming cases of
extinction. This causes an imbalance to the ecosystem for these creatures have important functions in
the bionetwork. There is so much life on Earth but unfortunately we may never get the chance to
witness all of them.

The first chapter of the encyclical also tackled the bearing of nature’s aggravation to the quality
of human life. Through time, the world becomes more and more unsafe to live in. Unnecessary
structures are constantly erected despite its inefficiency thus taking over the green spaces in most areas.
The issues on the environment’s critical conditions are maintained by a legal framework which lacks
authority over the people. It is a harsh reality that laws and ordinances are blurred by money and
connections. Projects posing risks to the environment and subsequently to man are overlooked by
corrupt agencies thus approving this critical developments. Indeed, greed has brought man further away
from nature. With this, the people should be more sensitive with these issues. It must also be considered
that the deterioration of the environment have more intense impacts on certain sectors than it do
elsewhere. As stated in the encyclical, the drawbacks of nature mostly affects the poor. That is where the
principle of differentiated responsibilities puts in. The more developed countries have the obligation to
give back more by doing their responsibilities in taking part of protecting the common resources.

Despite the deafening grievances and cries of the environment, we choose to not listen. Little
efforts have been made to combat the issues Mother Earth is facing. Like what the Pope said, man’s
complacency and cheerful recklessness on the nature’s present situation is truly upsetting. The need for a
more firm legal framework that protects the environment is just passed on from generation to
generation without really resolving it. But along with the well-founded rules and regulations to maintain
harmony with nature is discipline as citizens of the law. Let us be more mindful of our doings. By taking
small actions and being wise consumers we can help create a sustainable Earth. For seven days God has
created all things including humanity, whom he bestowed as stewards of all forms he made. But on the
following days, decades and centuries, man instead continuously triggers the slow death of nature. Let
us not wait for the end of the world, let us start making vital actions by beginning to put an end to
ignorance.

REFERENCE